- A legal strike is one of the most important and powerful tools available to academic staff associations during collective bargaining. Striking is a hard-fought right and should never be relinquished voluntarily.
- The key element of an effective strike is the withdrawal of academic labour, which creates pressure on the employer to improve the contract offer. Ancillary benefits of a strike can include increasing stakeholder awareness of association priorities and building solidarity with colleagues.
- Effective strikes require careful planning, coordination, and communication. Strategic objectives should be established in advance of strike action.
- Academic staff associations should regularly review and update policies to guide decision-making during a strike, in areas such as picketing, strike pay and benefits, communications, health and safety, wellness, and alternative duties.
- Accessibility should be a key component of strike planning, so that all association members can participate.
- Associations should regularly review applicable provincial regulations for strikes.
- Member associations should become familiar with the resources offered by CAUT and the CAUT Defence Fund to support strikes.
Approved by the CAUT Council, November 2023.
